You can just tell;  Luis Scola doesn’t get very much respect from many of the Laker players (Fisher, Odom), nor does his Yao Ming-less Houston Rockets get much respect.

Scola and the Rockets are doing their best to change that opinion.

Behind Scola, and a cast of no-namers and role players like second year guard Aaron Brooks, Carl Landry, Shane Battier, Von Wafer, and Kyle Lowry, the Houston Rockets have surprised without the services of Tracy McGrady, Yao Ming, and Dikembe Mutombo, all of whom are out with various injuries.

The Rockets have tied their semifinal series with the Western Conference favorite’s Los Angeles 3-3, by downing the Lakers 95-80 Thursday night forcing a deciding game seven.

Just as they did in game four, the Rockets used an amazing first quarter that completely blitzed the Lakers.

And it was Luis Scola that lifted the Rockets in that first quarter.  He used a variety of hook shots, spin moves, and drives to the basket, leading Houston to a 17-1 lead.

One of Scola’s moves included a spin move on Lamar Odom that left him in the dust and had me yelling “WOOO HOOO!” because it was such a great, quick move… (looking for that video now).

Houston would take a 27-15 lead after one and Scola would end the quarter with 14 points and 7 rebounds.  The 6-9 Argentine would finish the game with 24 points and 12 rebounds.  “I think we approached the game the way we should have. We played with a lot of energy, played team basketball and did the right things and followed a game plan” Scola said.

“We just didn’t start the game off the way we should have,” Lakers guard Kobe Bryant said. “We didn’t execute right. They jumped on top of us.”

Aaron Brooks took it from there; the 6-0 guard from Oregon led Houston in scoring with 26 points including several big shots in the final quarter.  Carl Landry added 15 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 blocks.

Links and Resources: Discuss: NBA Playoffs 2009 (Interbasket) Yao Ming to miss rest of NBA Playoffs with broken foot (interbasket),  Yao Ming, Luis Scola lead Houston in NBA Playoffs (Interbasket), Dikembe Mutombo’s career ends suddenly| 2009 NBA Playoffs (Interbasket)